Lower Dolpo's trek offers a mystical journey through remote, rugged landscapes, revealing "Shangri-La." Explore Phoksundo Lake, featured in "Caravan," ancient monasteries, and unique Bon Po culture. Trek high passes, witness stunning Himalayan scenery, and encounter diverse wildlife within Shey Phoksundo National Park.
Lower Dolpo tea house trek
Duration
15 Days
Trip Grade
Strenuous
Maximum Altitude
5309 m
Group Size
Max 10 Person
Activities
Trekking
Starts
Kathmandu
Ends
Kathmandu
Best Time
Aug, Sept, Oct, Apr, May & June
Lower Dolpo Trek Overview
Lower Dolpo Tea House Trek; standing amid the rugged natural landscape of Dolpa in all its beauty and experiencing its remoteness, you can’t help but feel that this is real Shanggri-La, a region with an aura of mysticism about it. Dolpa, also called “Ba Yul,” or the Hidden Valley, has fascinating villages and is still a land of mystery, scenery, and peace. Isolated and secluded from the outside world by spiraling high mountain passes and restricted entry, mysterious Dolpo had long fascinated and frustrated travelers.
The lower Dolpa circuit trekking is one of the most popular treks as it visits Phoksundo Lake, featured in Éric Valli's Oscar Award-nominated movie "Caravan.” Phoksundo, also known as the Blue Lake, cuts one of the deepest gorges in Nepal but contains no aquatic life. This trek links to Phoksundo Lak's experience with the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Dho. There are 130 Gompas in Dolpa, some of their history going back to very early times. Shey Phoksundo National Park, great Himalayan scenery, and Lake Phoksundo are the prime attractions of the region. The area is inhabited by people practicing the pre-Buddhist “Bon Po” that disappeared from Tibet in the 9th century, while lower Dolpa is home to Thakuris, Chhetris, and Brahmins. Upper Dolpa is home to Bhotiyas; their culture, dress, and speech are similar to Tibetans.
It is one of the few areas protecting trans-Himalayan ecology. Phoksundo Lake is one of the deepest and second-largest lakes in Nepal. The ancient settlement of Jugdullah, Shey Phoksundo National Park monastery, is over 700 years old. The trail crosses two high passes: Numla Pass (5190 m) and Bagla Pass (5070 m) before reaching the beautiful hamlet of Ringmo. The hiker’s first glimpse of Lake Phoksundo. Blue sheep, musk deer, snow leopard, goral, Himalayan tahr, and bear inhabit the National Park of this high Tibetan plateau.
The main attraction of the Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek:
- Numa La and Bagala Passes both go through 5000-meter high passes.
- Shey Phoksundo Lake and Dho Tarap Village.
- Isolated and untrodden by modern development.
- Tibetan Buddhists influenced the Himalayan lifestyle and customs.
- Less visited away from crowds and hassle-free.
- 15-day inclusive package lower Dolpo Circuit Tea House Trek
Lower Dolpo Trek Permit
To trek to Lower Dolpo, you will need two trekking permits: a lower Dolpo restricted area permit that costs U$ 10 per person per week and a Sheyphoksundo National Park entrance fee of NPR 3000 per person and NPR 1500 per person for SAARC nationals. Children below 10 years are free. It is mandatory that a foreign trekker's trip to Lower Dolpo must be organized through a registered local trekking company in Nepal and must trek with a licensed Nepalese trekking guide.
Itinerary
Expand allTrip preparation and gear check and late afternoon flight to Nepalgunj. Stay overnight in hotel.
Take Flight from Nepal gunj to Juphal (35mins), 3.5 hours walk to Dunai. Lunch at Dunai, visit central gompa and local cultue. Overnight stay at Dunai in teahouse or home stay.
6 hours trek to Sahartara from Dunai, lunch at Byasgar on the way to sightseeing and experience local culture. Stay overnight at Tarabagar in tea house / home stay..
Trek to Lainicap during 3-4 hours. Experience a natural hot spring. Visit to Tika Gompa, built by King of Jumla in before Nepal was unified. Stay overnight at Lainicap in tented camp.
Trek to Nawarpani from Lainicap which takes 8 hours, experiencing nature. Stay overnight at Nawarpani in tented camp. Stay overnight in tea house / home stay.
Trek to Dho Tarap from Nawarpani, 5-7 hours walk and we take lunch at Sisaul. Side trip to Sipchowk which is one of highest settlement in the world at the elevation of 4200m from sea level.. Stay overnight at Dho Tarap tented camp. Stay overnight in tea house / home stay.
Rest and relax or explore and a side trip to Sipchowk which is one of highest settlement in the world at the elevation of 4200m from sea level. Stay overnight in tea house / home stay.
Trek to Numala Base Camp from Dho Tarap. 4-6 hours walk and we have lunch at Tokyu. Stay overnight at Dho in tented camp.
Numala Base Camp-Danigar (4691 m) via Numala Pass (5310 m): trek to Danigar from Numala Base Camp, 5–6 hour walk. Stay overnight at Takshi in a tented camp.
Trek to Yak Kharka from Danigar (6 hours). We take lunch near Bagla Pass (5170 m) and cross it. Stay overnight at Yak Kharaka in a teahouse/homestay.
Trek from Yak Kharka to Ringmo (5 hours walk). After lunch at Ringmo we explore around areas, monastery. Stay overnight at Ringmo in teahouse / home stay.
We take rest day to relax at camp and to explore Bhotiya culture, Phoksundo lake and observe mountains and Suligad waterfall. Stay overnight at Ringmo in teahouse.
Trek to Chhekpa from Ringmo (7 hours walk). Stay overnight at Raichi in teahouse.
Trek from Chhekpa (6-7 hours walk). Stay overnight at Juphal in Hotel / Lodge .
Fly to Nepalgunj (35 minutes) and fly to Kathmandu (45 minutes). Stay overnight in Hotel. Trip ends with Wilderness Excursion.
This is our standard itinerary. It can be customized or slightly changed if required considering your pace and trekking habit that cause a change of day-to-day plan.
Still Confuse?
Download brochure or customize your trip.
Cost Details
Includes
- Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Juphal flight and airport taxes.
- Juphal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu flight and airport taxes.
- An experienced guide for the Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek.
- One shared a trekking porter to carry your pack and tent.
- Meals: 14 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches, 14 Dinners,
- Camping equipment for trek 2/3 nights camping
- Lower Dola Trekking restricted area trekking permit.
- Shey Phoksundo National Park entrance permit.
- Guide and porter fee with all their expenses.
- Local tax, VAT, and documentation charges.
Excludes
- Transfers, accommodation and meals in Kathmandu
- Guided sightseeing and monuments entrance fees in Kathmandu
- Alcoholic drinks and soft beverages such as coke, fanta, and mineral water
- Nepal visa, International flight, Toiletries and laundry service,
- Personal travel insurance and trekking gear,
- Rescue operation charge in case of emergency.
- Tips for guides and porters. (how much to tip?)
Dates & Availability
Select Departure Dates
Mar 2025
Apr 2025
May 2025
Check our dates published to see if it matches your time. We are happy to customize your tour perfectly to match your interests and needs, creating a unique travel experience just for you
Essential Information
For customized Lower Dolpo Trek package and itinerary as per your interest, please kindly provide us details like your group size, nationality, and mode of hotels in Kathmandu you would like to use. The price we have offered online includes 2 nights deluxe twin/double room with breakfast in a 3-star category boutique hotel in Kathmandu. International tour leaders are encouraged to get a complimentary or discounted rate.
Clients are advised to allow at least 1 or 2 extra days considering flight delays while doing trekking in Nepal.
Lower Dolpo tea house trek FAQs
Upper Dolpo Trekking Price depends on the group size; the type of hotels we include in Kathmandu will also make difference in trip cost. This trek cost seems high as Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Juphal – Nepalgunj – Kathmandu flight cost around USD 750 per person plus guide and support staff flight price to add. Accommodation in Kathmandu will be twin sharing deluxe bed room basis with buffet breakfast in Hotel Radisson. Accommodation during the trekking will be in tent in double occupancy.
This trek requires restricted area Upper Dolpo Trek USD 500 per person for first 10 days and after 10 days USD 50 each extra day per person. Beside this, we also need Shey Phoksundo National Park Entrance ticket which cost NPR 3390 (around USD 30) per person.
Upper Dolpo Trek Itinerary
Upper Dolpo Trek Itinerary will to around 23-25 days depending on your physical fitness and the amount of time you have. The itinerary of standard pattern is just provided as guidelines, moreover it is most important to see how well you go during the trek as we consider "Your safety is first while trekking with Wilderness Excursion" so our tour plan will be flexible and you are suggested to allow 1-2 spare days just in case someone is slow in the group, flight delay or else.
Concerning the difficulty of Upper Dolpo Trek, this trek is an adventurous trek which requires moderate physical fitness, stamina to walk daily 5-7 hours and previous trekking experience in the high altitude. However, Wilderness Excursion advice you to hike slowly and follow rest days on the way to get your body to get adapted with high altitude that allows you to become acclimatized and avoid AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness) to enjoy more of this trip.
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